Mumbai man gets life imprisonment for raping deaf-mute woman in 2013

The 49-year-old accused had raped the woman on the afternoon of December 31, 2013 at his shop in IC Colony, Borivli .

She had joined the shop just 10 days before the incident took place. (HT File/Representational Image)

A sessions court on Tuesday, sentenced a man to rigorous life imprisonment for raping a 20-year-old hearing and speech impaired woman in December 2013.

The accused Mannan Khan, 49, had raped her on the afternoon of December 31, 2013 at his shop in IC Colony, Borivli. She had joined the shop just 10 days before the incident took place.

Judge AD Deo, in her order, said, “to show leniency on the accused who has shown no repentance after exhibiting extreme depraved mentality would be a travesty of justice.”

The victim’s testimony was recorded with the assistance of a special teacher from the Bombay Institution for deaf and mute.

She told the court that while she was working, Khan groped her, closed her mouth, pushed her to the ground and raped her.

The victim then ran out of the shop and informed a local woman about the incident, who registered the FIR and testified that the accused asked her to not inform the police and said he would pay money to the victim if she did not disclose the incident.

Fourteen witnesses testified during the course of trial. The prosecution also submitted medical reports confirming rape.

The judge passed an order stating, “Her entire testimony has a ring of truthfulness. The trauma faced by her, reliving the entire incident at the time of giving evidence in the court, is so heartrending that no one can afford or dare to disbelieve her.”